Asked if he felt he would have been included if he were English, Frampton said: "I think they look favourably toward them.

"Take Nicola Adams, she has had an incredible achievement this year. And if she made the list, then I think I should have been in with a shout.

"I think there are people on the shortlist that I deserve to be in front of.

"Credit to Andy Murray he deserves it and should run away with it.

"But I think at least one of Jonny Rea, Bethany Firth and myself should have been on it.

Frampton saw off Leo Santa Cruz earlier this year (Photo: Getty)

"It's anti-Northern Ireland and its anti-boxing. There're five Yorkshiremen on it."

Frampton, 29, was Britain's best boxing world champion in 2016 and unified the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles before stepping up to beat the legendary Leo Santa Cruz to claim the WBA featherweight crown in New York.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

Video will play in

Bizarre BBC Sports Personality of the Year announcement

Share this video

Watch Next

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show: "I unified a title, defended a title and beat a three-weight champion, and all on the road.

"But I'll not complain, I wasn't picked for whatever reason, maybe they didn't have the space."

Frampton will defend his WBA belt in a rematch with Santa Cruz at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28.